The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-12-17


fly practiced by the fair
ladies OF the Confederacy during the last
years of the war;
The exigencies OF the time were great,
for the outside resources OF the South
slim at the start II one will recall the
small number OF manufactures TO be
found In that section--were dwindling
fast away, and often such supplies as
could be developed at home and among
families were the only ones that could
be relied upon.
These supplies included articles OF
every nature, from food and clothing for
the family down TO toys for the children.
The question OF dress became a per-
picked one after all ports were block
AIDED by Northern vessels and all frontier
posts were held by Northern troops, and
woman's wit was severely taxed in order
to make good appearance from the ma
terial at her command.
An occasional fashion journal, how
ever, as well as dresses. bonneis, shoes,
&C., would be Struggled through the
lines OF "run the bockade," and sight
OF these interesting and fabulously high
priced articles, bringing glimpses Of
that outer world from which she was
so completely hedged In, only served as
an incentive for further achievements,
and TO furnish models from which to
fashion homemade garments. For In
stance, my little four-year-old sister
became the happy possessor OF small
Leghorn chapeau, daintily trimmed with
blue and gray velvet, which had run the
blockade and cost $50 Twas too small
for myself, the eldest OF the two, and my
mother determined that she would CON
triye hat for me which would rival the
purchased one in beauty. She selected
soft, yellow husks, of well-dried Indian
corn, as her material to work from, In
stead OF palmetto leaves, which were
very commonly used for plating hats.
She tore the husks into narrow strips
with pin, and from these braided
very pretty pointed plat OF five
strands. This she aftefward sewed into
q hat similar in shape to that OF my sis
ters, lined Il with shirred peachblow
silk, and trimmed Il with fringed and
knotted scarf OF the same, which silk was
cut from the best remaining parts Of a
dress worn years before at her "coming-
out party" OF the two little hats mine
with its pretty combination of cream
color and pink was deemed the most at
lractive.
Southern manufactured calico was very
coarse aud sleazy and sold at this time
1s64-65 at $50 per yard. Aside from
the fact that few could afford to pur-
chase Il. homespun goods were really
preferred by many. All grades OF these
goods would be found at the stores, bvt
those desiring really nice dresses pre-
pared the material and had II woven, IL
possible, at their homes.
My colored nanny felt a profound
disdain for what she denominated dat
dimpsey, Federico stuff" and when my
best Sunday dress of the scorned mate
rial suddenly and disastrously gave way
one day, she declared she would make
me homespun gown that would as far
surpass Il as the sun does the stars. My
fragile mother, overweight by privation
and suspense, was III at the time and
nanny had full sway In the selection
Of material for making the promised
gown. She sought the attic and came
down with large bundle of badly-worn
garments of silk and wool, In black and
white, and also bits of silk and wool
cloth. These garments and bits she cut
into very small pieces and then with
wonderful patience picked them entirely
apart into a species of lint. This lint
vas carded into rolls, which were then
spun into thread, and from this thread
the material was finally woven. The
goods resulting from this commingling
ofwhite and black were Of medium gray
In color, their texture was smooth and
silky, and "a specimen of home manu-.
facturc were deserving of great credit.
The little gown was made and donned
~ birthday surprise to my mother.
A lovely young lady friend Of my
mothers, hearing Of mammy's wonder
full success, grasped eagerly at the idea
IS a means OF making for herself a hand.
some wedding-gown. The result OF her
efforts was asilky material OF greenish,
silvery hue, in accordance with the col
ors from which the lint had been made.
From this she fashioned q stylish gown